Windshield wiper mechanism



Allg. 1l, L A LAWLR 2,292,703

WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM Filed Jan. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 /N VENTOR A TTORNE YS.

Patented Aug. 11, 1942 lWINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM Jack A. Lawler, Franklin, Mich., assignor to Marvel Equipment Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application January 16, 1939, Serial No. 251,061

4 Claims.

r[his invention relates to windshield wiper operating mechanism and more particularly to mechanism for actuating one or more wiper or cleaner blades wherein improved meansis provided for mechanically parking the blade or blades at a predetermined point either Ain the normal range of travel ofl the blade'or somewhat therebeyond, such, for example, as adjacent the upper or lower margin of the windshield of a motor vehicle.

An object of the invention is to provide windshield wiper operating mechanism `of the foregoing character having means effective at predetermined times to mechanically maintain the wiper blade or blades in parked-position.

Another object of the invention isl to provide parking means which becomes eiective to maintain the parts in parked position upon operating the control mechanism to arrest the operation of the wiper blade or blades.

A further object of the invention is to provide relatively simple, inexpensive and Yeffective means iormechanically maintaining the valve and valve` operating mechanism in parked position at predetermined times.

A further object of the inventionis to-provide mechanismr of the foregoing character with means under the control of the operator to effect a momentary increasein the speed oi travelY of the wiper element just prior to parking.

A further object ofthe invention .is to provide a mechanical parking device for a windshield wiper motor, particularly of the iiuid pressure type, such device embodying, ina single, control, means for regulating, the speed oi the motor, means for mechanically arresting and releasably holding the motor driven element, suchas the shaft, in a predetermined parking position, and means for checking or blocking the snap-action valve device substantially at onelimit of its operation to prevent unintended reversing action of the valveactuating mechanismprior tocom'- pletionrof the mechanicalparking action.

A further object is to provide an improved fluid pressure motor, particularly for windshield wipers or cleaners, having a Asnap-action valve mechanism and a mechanical `parking control together withA such operative interrelationl between said mechanism and parking control as to enable the parking action to occur always at one limit in the range of operation, the fluid pressure to be cut off from the motor, and the valve action blocked in order Vto complete the mechanical parking action regardless of variations CJI in the operative range of travel of the motor member.

The above and other objects oi the invention will appear. from the following description. and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which .like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

, In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly` broken away and partly in section, illustrating a uid pressure motor constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1 but illustrating a different position of the valve mechanism and associated parts of. theV motor.

Fig. 3 is a vi`ew similar to Fig. 2, illustrating another position of the valve mechanism and associated parts.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken substantially along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the parts in parked position,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section showing the parts in the slow speed position.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged section similar to Fig. 6,y showing the parts in the high speed position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged section showing the parts in a different position; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view, p-artly in section, taken substantially along the line 9 9 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is toy be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details oi construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the; purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated, by way' of example, a uid pressure motor for a windshield wiper or the like embodying the features of the present invention. It will be understood that the motor is adapted for operating either a single wiper or cleanerv blade or a plurality of blades mounted to traverse a windshield or other window glass. l

As seen in the drawings, the motor may comprise a casing or housing composed of two principal parts, namely one member which is in the form of a die cast chambered casing member lil having an annular flange IJa, and a preferably pressed or stamped metal casing portion I I also having an annular iiange Ila. adapted to be secured to the flange I 9a by screws or the like, not shown.

The casing members I and II are formed to provide a diaphragm chamber within which is located a exible diaphragm I2 having its peripheral edge clamped between the flanges IIJa and IIa. 'Ihe diaphragm I2 is composed of suitable light, flexible or resilient material and centrally mounted thereon at opposite sides are suitable reinforcing disks I3, I3 which are secured together by rivets, not shown. Each diaphragm disk I3 is centrally perforated to receive a connecting rod or shaft I4, the shaft and disks being held together in any suitable manner, as by means of a nut I5. 'Ihe shaft I4 is pivotally connected through a pin I1 with a wiper blade actuating bar I6. 'I'hus reciprocation of the diaphragm I2 within the diaphragm chamber will shift the bar I6 in an endwise direction. The shaft or connecting rod I4 is provided with a transverse pin I8 which projects outwardly through an elongated slot I9 formed in a boss within which the shaft reciprocates.

'I'he valve actuating mechanism per se, herein shown, forms no part of the present invention, the construction and mode of operation thereof being substantially the same as illustrated in the copending application of Walter T. Fellows, Serial No. 249,945, filed January 9, 1939, now abancloned.

This valve mechanism may comprise a flat oscillatable valve 23 which alternately connects a vacuum supply port 29 with either of the ports 2I or 22 for alternately connecting the source of vacuum from ports 62 and 69, see Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive, to opposite sides of the diaphragm I2 to move the latter back and forth by virtue of the difference in atmospheric and reduced pressure in the vacuum source. The valve 23 is mounted upon a pivotpin 24 which also provides a common pivot for the inner end of a kicker or intermediate actuating arm 25 and an interconnected swinging operating lever 26. The outer or lower end of the operating lever 25 is bifurcated to provide an elongated slot 21 which cooperates with the pin I8 carried by the actuating or power shaft 14. The upper or free end of the kicker arm 25 has an olset extension 25h which, at predetermined times, contacts a stop pin as will be hereinafter described. The actuating arm 25 and the operating lever 26 are connected together through the medium of an actuating spring 28 which, as shown, is wire formed and has one or more central coils. The opposite ends of the spring are anchored upon the pins 25a and 26a which are preferably riveted to the ends of the arms or levers 25 and 26, respectively. The snap-action valve mechanism is mounted upon the fiat face of the wall 29 and is enclosed by a removable pressed metal closure plate 30.

A boss 3| is provided with a cylindrical hole or passage 32 extending therethrough. A plunger 33 extends through the passage and is provided at its outer end with a, coupling 349 to which may be connected, in any suitable manner, a control or actuating member (not shown). The actuating member provides means for rotating or turning the plunger to control the speed and effect parking. 'I'he plunger has a frusto-conical inner or working end 34a adjacent which the plunger is provided with a cylindrical head or valve 34 terminating in a reduced portion 35 at the end of which the plunger is formed with a cylindrical control valve 36. Beyond the valve 36 the plunger has a second reduced elongated portion 31. A spiral compression spring 38 is mounted upon the reduced portion 31 and is retained between the valve portion 36 and a pair of oppositely extending retainer pins 39 which have a press lit in holes drilled in the boss 3|. As shown, these pins are spaced to permit free movement of the plunger in the passage 32. The boss 3| at its upper end is provided with a curved slot 40 andthe plunger 33 carries a pin 4I which projects through the slot and which has an angular depending extension 42. As seen in Fig. 4, the casing or cover 30 is provided with a slot or opening 30a through which the pin portion 42 projects when the pin and its supporting plunger are in parking position. In this position, the pin portion 42 is shown engaged by the projection 25b of the actuating arm 25, thus blocking the arm 25 and preventing it from swinging to the left from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2. It will be understood, of course, that upon rotation of the plunger 33 the pin portion 42 will be shifted out of blocking position with respect to the projection 25h of the valve actuating arm 25.

The at face of the wall 29 serves to support a pair of preferably rubber covered stop pins or members 43 and 44, these serving as stops or movement limiting members for the kicker or intermediate actuating arm 25.

The power shaft or connecting rod I4 is in the present instance formed with a stepped notch or recess having a shallow portion and a relatively deeper portion 5I, the portion 5I forming a continuation of the portion 5U. When the driven shaft I4 reaches nearly the parking position, see Fig. 8, the working end 34a of the plunger isforced by the spring 38 into the sha1- low notch 50 just prior to the time that the wiper blade (not shown) assumes its parked position. Upon a slight further shifting movement of the shaft I4, the plunger end 34 drops into the deep notch 5I whereupon the shaft j I4 and hence the wiper blade or blades will be retained in parked position as seen in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

It will be understood that the chamber to the left of the diaphragm, as viewed in Fig. 1, is alternately subjected to atmospheric pressure and reduced pressure, or vacuum, through a conduit or passage leading to the port 22. In like manner the chamber. to the right of the diaphragm is alternately subjected to the atmospheric pressure and reduced pressure by a drilled passage or conduit 2Ia leading to the port 2I. The drilled passage 60 (Figs. 5-8), which is plugged at its outer end and which opens into the plunger passage 32 at its inner end, leads through angular drilled passages directly to the central supply port 20. 'I'he passage 32 is vented to atmosphere by a port 56 which is in communication with the vacuum supply passage BIJ only when the mechanism reaches its parking position, see Fig. 5. Normally the supply conduit 6I)V is in communication with passage 62 which communicates with a passage 62a in a boss adapted to beV connected by a hose or tube to a source of fluid pressure, such asthe intake manifold of anY engine. It will be seen from the arrangement that valve 36 controls the passage 60 and valve 34 controls the passage 62 as the plunger is shifted in the borey 32 between its limits of travel.

Upward' movement of the plunger or detent 33 against the action of spring 38 isv accomplished by manually turning the head 340 to cause thecontrol pin 4I to ride over theV ramplike bottom surface of the control slot 40. This slot has an abrupt inclined portion 46a (Fig. 9) terminating in. a reversely inclined ramp surface 46h of less inclination, the angularity of which is sufficiently low to hold the pin 4I against movement thereon due to the spring. All normal speed adjustmentsof. the motor are accomplished by movement of control pin 4I over the ramp 40D. Full low speed adjustment is obtained when the pin reaches the peak 40e of the ramp and normal high speed adjustment is obtained by shifting the pin down the ramp 43h to the right in Fig. 9. When the pin passes into the steep portion 40a of the slot and the plunger is manually released the springwill automatically draw the plungerV down the ramp 40a until the end 34a thereof rides upon the shaft I4 and drops into the notch steps 50 and 5I at parking position. In Fig. '7 the parts are illustrated in the high speed adjustment of the motor, the valve 34 being clear of the port 62 and the valve 36 clear of the port 60, thus permitting unrestricted communication between ports 62 and 6|] while closing offcommunication between the atmospheric vent 56 and port 60. As the knob or head 346 is turned the pin 4I is caused to ride upwards over the ramp 40h thus elevating the plunger 33 and causingvalve 34 to close off the port 62, reducing'the speed of the motor. Full retarded speed is illustrated in Fig. 6 when the control pin reaches the top 46c of the ramp 40h. Further rotative movement of the plunger in the same direction will move the control pin onto the steep ramp 46a permitting the spring to propel the plunger rapidly downward. As this occurs the valve 34 will uncover the port 62 completely, in the same man-I ner as shown in Fig. 7, thus momentarily opening fully the vacuum line from port 52 through passage 6I) and putting the motor under full power. This application of full power just prior to parking will ensure sufficient effort on the diaphragm to shift the shaft I4 to the positions of Figs. 8 and 5. In most cases as the plunger moves down from its position of Fig. 6 toward parking position the end 34a of the plunger will bring up against the face of the shaft I4 to one side of the step 50 and will ride the shaft. At this time it will be seen that the ports 62 and 60 are wide open thus ensuring full power to the motor. Regardless of what point the end 34a engages the shaft, the latter and hence the wiper blade will complete its cycle until the notch 50 registers with the plunger whereupon the end 34a will drop into the notch as shown in Fig. 8. At this point the valve 36 cuts off a portion but not all of the port 66 leaving sufficient passage therethrough so that the motor is under power sufficient to bring the locking notch into registry with `the plunger. As the plunger drops thereinto communication between passages 62 and E0 will be interrupted and passage will'be opened to atmosphere through vent 56 as. shown inFig.r5.

In the parking position of Fig. 5 the shaft I4 will be locked by the detent plunger. However, since the leading sides 50a and 5Ia of the notches are cam shaped, a manual force applied to the wiper blade to swing the same away from parked position will move the shaft and cam the plunger out of the notches. Since this will immediately open communication between passages 62 and 6I) (see position of Fig. '7) the wiper will be brought back to parked position immediately upon release of the wiper blade. When ther motor is parked it will be seen that both sides of the diaphragm will be subject to atmospheric pressure, the diaphragm thus being air suspended and under no load when the motor is parked.

Thus, when the detent plunger is rotated, as above described, and released for parking the wiper, the end 34a usually will first engage the smooth face of the shaft and ride thereon while the shaft completes it reciprocatory cycle of operation. The end 34a of the plunger will rst drop into the notch 50 and at thisv point the extension 42 will .move down into the path of the extension 25h of the valve arm 25 preventing return movement of this arm to the leftV in Fig. 1 and hence preventing the arm from reversing the valve. Continued movement of the shaft will permit the end 34a. to drop into the final locking notch 5I. Thus, incase the lever 26 passes the dead center position whereby the spring'28 will normally shift the arm 25 to the left in Fig. 1, and if thisoccurs before the detent 34a drops into the notch 5I, the pin extension 42 will be in a position to block the arm 25 because of the fact that it is moved into blocking position just prior to final parking when the plunger drops into the notch 50.

I claim:

l. In a fluid pressure motor provided with a body having a, chamber therein and adapted for use with a windshield wiper or the like, the combination of vacuum actuated means movable in said chamber, a conduit communicating-with said chamber on one side of said means and connected to a source of vacuum or reduced pressure, a passage in said body communicating with said chamber on the other side of said means and opening to the atmosphere, valve mechanish for reversibly subjecting one of the sides of said means to the reduced pressure in said conduit during operation of the motor while subjecting the other side thereof to the atmospheric pressure in said passage, a reciprocable member driven from said means and operably connected to said Valve mechanism, said member being provided with a two step recess, a spring actuated locking plunger adapted to coact with said recess to mechanically park said reciprocable member at a predetermined point at or near one limit of the range of travel of said Vacuum actuated means, a valve controlled by said plunger for interrupting said conduit when the plunger coacts with the recess in said member, a cam-surface on said body, and a device operably connected to said plunger and movable on said cam surface, said device being adapted for preventing action of said valve mechanism at or near the parking point, one step of said recess in said reciprocable member being effective to permit movement of the plunger and said device into position to prevent action of said Valve mechanism, and the other step cooperating with the plunger to releasably lock said driven member in parking position.

2. In a uid pressure motor provided with a body having a chamber therein and adapted for use with a windshield wiper or the like, the combination of vacuum actuated means movable in said chamber, a conduit communicating with said chamber on one side of said means and connected to a source of partial vacuum or reduced pressure, a passage in said body communicating with saidy chamber on the other side of said means and opening to the atmosphere, a snap action valve mechanism for reversibly subjecting one side of said means to the reduced pressure in said conduit during operation of the motor While subjecting the other side thereof to the atmospheric pressure in said passage, a reciprocable member driven from said vacuum actuated means and connected to said valve mechanism for operating the same, a spring actuated reciprocable and rotatable locking plunger, said reciprocable member being provided with a. part adapted to coact with said plunger to mechanically park the reciprocable member at a predetermined point at or near one limit of the range of travel of said vacuum actuated means, a valve controlled by said plunger to interrupt said conduit when the plunger coacts with said member at the parking point, a device operably connected to said plunger for preventing action of said valve mechanism at or near the parking point, and a cam surface on a xed part of the motor, said cam surface being engageable by said device upon rotating the plunger for adjusting relative to said conduit the valve controlled by said plunger.

3. In a fluid pressure motor having a body provided With a chamber and adapted for use with a windshield wiper or the like, said motor including a, fluid actuated means movable in said chamber, a conduit connected to a source of fluid pressure, a pair of additional conduits adapted to communicate with the atmosphere and opening into said chamber on opposite sides of said means, a snap action valve mechanism alternately connecting said fluid pressure conduit with one and then the other of said pair of additional conduits, the unconnected conduit of said pair communicating with the atmosphere, a member driven by said fluid actuated means, a manually rotatable speed control plunger, an arm carried by said plunger valve means movable with the plunger for interrupting the fluid pressure conduit, cam means contacted by said arm eiective upon rotation of the plunger in a single direction to shift the plunger in one direction to decrease the motor speed and thence in the opposite direction to increase the motor speed, and spring means for moving the plunger endwise when the plunger is shifted in said opposite direction.

4. In a fluid pressure motor adapted for use with a windshield wiper or the like, a body provided with a.' chamber, uid actuated means movable in said chamber, said body having a pair of ports in one of its outer walls and having a passage leading from each port, said passages communicating with said chamber on opposite sides of said means, a conduit connected to a source of reduced uid pressure and leading to a third port in said Wall, snap action means adapted to alternately establish said third port in communication with one and then the other of said pair of ports, the port not so established being open to the atmosphere, a member driven by said uid actuated means and having a recess, a manually rotatable speed control plunger, valve movable with the plunger for interrupting the conduit, cam means on a fixed part of the motor, an arm carried by said plunger contacting said cam means and being effective upon rotation of the plunger in a single direction to shift the plunger in one direction to decrease the motor speed and thence in the opposite direction to increase the motor speed, said plunger having means movable into position to yieldingly engage in said recess for yieldingly locking said driven member when said arm is shifted on said cam means to move said plunger beyond the position to increase the motor speed and toward its locking position, and spring means for yieldingly maintaining said plunger in said recess.

JACK A. LAWLER.

CERTIFICATE C F CORRECTION. A Patent No. 2,292,705. August 11, 19112 JACK A LAwLER.

It is hereby certified that error appears 'in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring; correction as follows: Pag'eh., second column', line 50, claim 14., after 1'valve" insert -means; vand that the said Letters APatent should be read with this vcorrection therein that the same lmay conform to the record/of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 1st day of December, A. D. 1914.2.

l Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) v Acting Commissioner of Patents 

